Dancer inverts using straps apparatus at PoleCon.

Where did that name come from? A historical perspective on PoleCon showcases

February 3, 2024
Colleen
from the HBIC, General

Prior to 2015, (2010-2013) there were no consistent showcases at PoleCon.

Some years, there was a “Showcase of Stars” and in other years, performances were sprinkled onto the main stage without specific organization.

From 2015 to today, PoleCon showcases on the main stage were organized in various thematic showcases to highlight the different types of people who pole dance and the different styles of pole dancing.

Performers self-select/identify into showcases and apply using a free form (from 2019 forward). In a few cases, PoleCon may email an applicant and ask if they would like to be featured into a different showcase based on their application video.

Find videos from all showcases from all years listed below on the PoleCon YouTube Channel.

Additionally, PoleCon was livestreamed in:

2015, 2016, and 2017 livestreamed by UPA.
PoleCon was not livestreamed in 2018 or 2019 due to costs.
2020 all PoleCon was virtual.
2021, 2022, and 2023 were livestreamed by PoleCon on the PoleCon YouTube Channel
2024 is scheduled to be livestreamed on the PoleCon YouTube Channel

2015 Showcases

Black Girls Pole: is a brand. For more information about their name and ethos, visit their website.
Dangerous Curves: is a brand. It was the first plus-size pole competition started by Roz the Diva.
Men of Pole: created by PoleCon to highlight those that identify as men in an often woman-dominated environment.
Lyra: created by PoleCon to recognize that many pole studios also had lyra programs.
PSO Champions: is a brand. It is the largest pro-am pole competition in the world.
PowerFlow: created by PoleCon to highlight the intersection of tricks and flow/dance.
Troupes and Groups: created by PoleCon to highlight more than one performer performing together.
Australian Invasion: created by PoleCon to recognize the Australian contribution to pole dancing.
Sexy: created by PoleCon to highlight the many ways polers demonstrate “sexy”
Up and Coming Stars: created by PoleCon to highlight performers who were not also paid workshop leaders.
IPSF Champions: this year, the IPSF hosted their first US competition on the PoleCon stage as a separately ticketed event. This showcase highlighted those and other winners.

2016 Showcases

Black Girls Pole
Dangerous Curves
Men of Pole
Lyra
PowerFlow
Troupes and Groups
Sexy
Up and Coming Stars
Pole Comedy: created by PoleCon to highlight people performing in a comedic way.
Pole Masters: created by PoleCon to highlight people 40 years old or older performing and competition pole. The term was borrowed from PSO.
Contemporary/Artistic: created by PoleCon to highlight the contemporary/artistic/lyrical pole style.

2017 Showcases

Black Girls Pole
Dangerous Curves
Men of Pole
Lyra
PowerFlow
Troupes and Groups
Sexy
Up and Coming Stars
Pole Comedy
Pole Masters
Contemporary/Artistic
Youth: created by PoleCon to highlight those under 18 who poled
123 Poling: a sponsored showcase of 123Poling teachers

2018 Showcases

Black Girls Pole
Dangerous Curves
Men of Pole
Lyra
PowerFlow
Troupes and Groups
Sexy
Up and Coming Stars
Pole Comedy
Pole Masters
Contemporary/Artistic
Youth
Queer: showcase was requested by Liz Kinnmark based on conversations in the Queer community at the time. Read about some of that here.

2019 Showcases

Black Girls Pole
Dangerous Curves
Men of Pole
Lyra
PowerFlow
Troupes and Groups
Sexy
Up and Coming Stars
Pole Comedy
Pole Masters
Contemporary/Artistic
Youth (temporarily canceled this year due to low signups)
Queer
Low Flow: created by PoleCon in partnership with Liquid Motion to represent the increased presence of basework and low flow polers.
Para Pole: created by PoleCon to showcase polers with apparent and non-apparent disabilities. The term “para” is borrowed from the Paralympics.
Creepy: created by PoleCon to reflect a growing population of dark/creepy/sinister/goth/horror performances in the showcase applicant pool. This showcase was available to apply directly to in 2020.
Freestyle: created by Nia of Butter+Filth to replace the canceled Youth showcase. PoleCon asked for help to find a new showcase concept last minute and Nia responded.

2020 Was Not Held in Person, Virtual PoleCon was held with representatives from the following showcase:

Black Girls Pole
Dangerous Curves
Men of Pole
Lyra
PowerFlow
Troupes and Groups
Sexy
Up and Coming Stars
Pole Comedy
Pole Masters
Contemporary/Artistic
Youth
Queer
Para Pole
Creepy
Freestyle
Low Flow
Experimental: was added in 2020 on the request of Finding Your Freestyle and Inanimate Dance organizations to recognize unusual or experimental movement, props, music, and other ways of interacting with pole. This is the first virtual performance.

2021 Was Held but on a truncated schedule due to a natural disaster.

Black Girls Pole
Dangerous Curves
Men of Pole
Lyra*renamed to Aerial this year to better represent the diversity of apparatus brough to PoleCon to perform.
PowerFlow
Troupes and Groups
Sexy
Up and Coming Stars
Pole Comedy
Pole Masters
Contemporary/Artistic
Youth
Queer
Para Pole
Creepy
Freestyle
Low Flow
Experimental: was added in 2020 on the request of Finding Your Freestyle and Inanimate Dance organizations to recognize unusual or experimental movement, props, music, and other ways of interacting with pole. This is the first live performance.

2022 Showcases

Black Girls Pole
Dangerous Curves
Men of Pole
Aerial
PowerFlow
Troupes and Groups
Sexy
Up and Coming Stars
Pole Comedy
Pole Masters
Contemporary/Artistic
Youth
Queer
Para Pole
Creepy
Freestyle
Low Flow
Experimental
Sport: created by PoleCon to represent a growing population of sport focused polers and organizations This showcase was available to apply directly to in 2023.

2023 Showcases

Black Girls Pole
Dangerous Curves
Men of Pole
Aerial
PowerFlow
Troupes and Groups
Sexy
Up and Coming Stars
Pole Comedy
Pole Masters
Contemporary/Artistic
Youth
Queer
Para Pole
Creepy
Freestyle
Low Flow
Experimental
Sport
Latin Heritage: debuted this year and was available to apply to in 2023. Showcase was created by PoleCon and named by a group of Spanish speakers from around the world lead by Jolene the “Polerican” to represent the diversity of their population after PoleCon noticed an increased attendance in native Spanish speakers to the 2022 event and asked for help reaching out to that demographic.

2024 Showcases (scheduled)

Black Girls Pole
Dangerous Curves
Men of Pole
Aerial
PowerFlow
Troupes and Groups
Sexy
Up and Coming Stars
Pole Comedy
Pole Masters*Renamed Pole Masters and Grandmasters (50+)
Contemporary/Artistic
Youth
Queer
Para Pole
Creepy
Freestyle
Low Flow*Renamed Low Flow and Floorwork
Experimental
Sport
Latin Heritage

Over the years PoleCon has also hosted the Hall of Fame Games, other games/ice breakers (like the Aerial EDG Freestyle competition or the Body and Pole “Thunder Pole” event), and various Fashion Shows hosted by pole apparel brands on the main stage. The first PoleCon panel was held on the main stage in 2015, read more about PoleCon panels at this link.

PoleCon will continue to evolve and to adjust names of showcases as relevant to represent the pole community more accurately. Showcases may additionally change over the years depending on number of applicants showing interest to a particular showcase. Historically, the Sexy showcase always garners the most applications year over year.

Got more questions about PoleCon? Just ask!

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Colleen

Colleen Jolly is an entrepreneur and a pole dance enthusiast. She has been poling for 13 years, is the CEO of PoleCon and the Executive Director of the IPIA. She teaches pole, lyra, floorwork, and mobility online and in-person in the DC metro area. She has been active in leadership roles in several international businesses over the past two decades and is also an award-winning pole dancer, artist, writer, and speaker. She is certified in several movement modalities and wrote the book "Mobility for Pole" to help pole dancers move better.

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